[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 162 (Friday, August 21, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44858-44859]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22556]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-5494-7]


Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of 
EPA Comments

    Availability of EPA comments prepared July 20, 1998 Through July 
24, 1998 pursuant to the Environmental Review Process (ERP), under 
Section 309 of the Clean Air Act and Section 102(2)(c) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act as amended. Requests for copies of EPA 
comments can be directed to the Office of Federal Activities at (202) 
564-7167.
    An explanation of the ratings assigned to draft environmental 
impact statements (EISs) was published in FR dated April 10, 1998 (63 
FR 17856).

Draft EISs

    ERP No. DS-AFS-L65288-ID Rating EC2, Deadwood Ecosystem Analysis 
'96 Project, New Information on New Alternative, Implementation, Boise 
National Forest, Lowman Ranger District, Boise and Valley Counties, ID.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns that the EIS does not 
adequately address the impacts of prescribed burning that would result 
with the implementation of the action alternative currently under 
consideration. On May 15, 1998, EPA issued an interim policy for 
addressing public health and welfare impacts caused by wildland and 
prescribed fires that are managed to achieve resource benefits.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-AFS-J31024-UT, Blanchett Park Dam and Irrigation 
Reservoir, Construction and Operation, Uintah Water Conservancy 
District (UWCD), Special-Use-Permit and COE Section 404 Permit, Ashley 
National Forest, Vernal Ranger District, Uintah County, UT.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections based on

[[Page 44859]]

potential adverse impacts to wetlands and aquatic resources.
    ERP No. F-AFS-J65252-MT, Bighorn Sheep Range and China Basin 
Salvage Project, Wildlife Habitat Enhancement Activities and Watershed 
Restoration Activities, Kootenai National Forest, Libby Ranger 
District, Lincoln County, MT.
    Summary: EPA did not identify any potential environmental concerns 
with the preferred alternative, although additional aquatics and 
hydrologic monitoring was encouraged.
    ERP No. F-AFS-J65280-MT, Meadow Timber Sales, Implementation, 
Timber Harvesting, Road Construction and Prescribed Burning, Fortine 
Ranger District, Kootenai National Forest, Lincoln County, MT.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about impacts to 
water quality and suggested that water quality monitoring was needed to 
validate and document BMP effectiveness.
    ERP No. F-FRC-L05208-WA, Skagit River Basin Hydroelectric Projects, 
Eigth Projects--(FERC. No. 10100) (FERC. No 4437) (FERC. No. 4376) 
(FERC. No. 9787) (FERC. No. 10311) (FERC. No. 6984) and FERC No. 10269 
and No. 10416) Construction and Operation, Licensing, Whatcom and 
Skagit Counties, WA.
    Summary: Review of the Final EIS was not deemed necessary. No 
formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-MMS-G02007-TX, Western Planning Area, Proposed Western 
Gulf of Mexico 1997-2002 (5-Year Program) Outer Continental Shelf Oil 
and Gas Sales 171, 174, 177 and 180, Lease Offering, Offshore Marine 
Environmental and Coastal Counties/Parishes of Texas and Louisiana.
    Summary: Review of the Final EIS was not deemed necessary. No 
formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

    Dated: August 18, 1998.
William D. Dickerson,
Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 98-22556 Filed 8-20-98; 8:45 am]
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